West-MEC Northwest Campus Phase 1 Project Update
The first phase of construction for the Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) Northwest Campus is underway! Green Ideas was an integral design team member and worked directly with SPS+ Architects, Applied Engineering and Energy Systems Design to quantify and validate design decisions. We were brought in as early as programming to assist in quantifying daylight metrics for use as a parametric design constraint for the trade school facility. This analysis assisted in qualifying floor plate depth restrictions, volumetric height restrictions and massing constraints for optimized natural daylight in every learning environment. This analysis was engaged through BIM integrated Daylight Modeling.
Following this analysis, we worked in tandem with SPS+ Architects and McCarthy Building Companies to validate a cost effective and thermally efficient building envelope system that aligned with original design intent. We assisted in the creation of a performance specification for the insulated metal panel (IMP) assembly which ultimately was optimized for thermal performance/dollar cost installed.
With this data in hand regarding an appropriate glazing scheme and envelope system, we engaged with the MEP consulting engineers to quantify systems design performance through iterative energy modeling and system lifecycle cost analysis. The entire design team set ambitious goals regarding performance from the outset of the project. By engaging in iterative Building Science Analysis, the design is truly the embodiment of performance based design.
All of this analysis was done through BIM integrated energy modeling while simultaneously utilizing the BIM 360 Glue platform (see image 1)!
Image 1: BIM 360 Glue Exploded Model for Performance Specification Optimization
Current Project Status
This project is currently under construction. McCarthy Building Companies is heading construction efforts. The project is set to open in fall of 2017. Green Ideas will continue working with the project team to validate systems installation and work through the Energy Systems Commissioning process.
We are set to put our design data where our mouth is and verify performance post construction!
Extremely excited to work with such a progressive team!
